Today’s Workout: Work obliques to help build a stronger core

Friday

Aug 4, 2017 at 11:08 AMAug 4, 2017 at 11:08 AM

Marlo Alleva More Content Now

There is more to core fitness than just visual goodness. Truth is, a strong core is vital for the rest of your body to perform, not only on a higher level, but general daily activities as well. And letís face it, a strong and toned midsection just looks good.

You can keep things simple with basic abdominal moves or you can spice things up from time to time and throw in a more challenging move; something that will wake the core up and add variety.

Our move today is a Side V Up. All you need is a flat surface. And yes, you will be working your core, more specifically, the obliques.

Begin this move by lying on your side. Either prop your upper body on your forearm, or with your arm extended out on the floor for balance.

Keeping your body on its side, extend your legs straight down, keeping them close together. Engage the core and prepare to move.

Push against the floor with your upper body or arm, keep the abdominals tight, proceed to lift the legs upward. The idea is to keep your body in a sideways position as much as possible, to form the letter V.

Your hips will shift back slightly, but the point in this move is to keep the tension loaded in the midsection, and more specifically, your side.

Shoot for eight to 10 repetitions on each side, per set. For at least two to three sets. This abdominal move is fun and challenging to try all on its own, but even better added into an abs workout session.

Keep tossing in challenging moves like this Side V Up, and your core wonít only be strong for the rest of your body, but you just might find yourself with the beginnings of a six pack.

ó Marlo Alleva, an instructor at Goldís Gym and group fitness coordinator at Fontaine-Gills YMCA in Lakeland, Florida, can be reached at faluvzpa@msn.